As I spend a lot of time on US based forums and groups, and a lot of time watching US based car vids on YouTube. I see plenty and plenty of occasions where the "dreaded check engine light" comes on.
The funny thing is, I've owned dozens of cars, most of which have been in sub-optimal condition and I can't recall ever actually having my CEL on.
I drove my Jeep for months with the EVAP system disconnected (from the PO) with no CEL - but did have a fault code stored.
I recently replaced the timing belt in my MK4 golf, when I started it, I'd missed a vacuum hose and had a big air leak. The car ran like absolute crap, I logged multiple misfires within 30 seconds (like 40 on cylinder 4), timing advance was oscillating around 0* CEL was lit up. I stopped the car, found and reconnected the hose, fired it up and CEL went off.
I had a coil go bad on a newer Audi - logged misfire faults but no CEL
Faulty coolant temp on a Toyota MR2 - gauge was all over the place - no CEL...
Most of these cars were ex Japan and imported to New Zealand, so I've decided that the threshold for CEL is much much lower on these Japan spec cars.
Which means (I guess because of CARB and emissions) your US spec cars throw CELs all the time?
Don't know if either is better, I think I'd prefer to know earlier.. but I guess if the manufacturer decides its not yet a problem, why should I worry?
Also, one NZ spec TJ ECU for sale. High CEL threshold to help in passing SMOG
The funny thing is, I've owned dozens of cars, most of which have been in sub-optimal condition and I can't recall ever actually having my CEL on.
I drove my Jeep for months with the EVAP system disconnected (from the PO) with no CEL - but did have a fault code stored.
I recently replaced the timing belt in my MK4 golf, when I started it, I'd missed a vacuum hose and had a big air leak. The car ran like absolute crap, I logged multiple misfires within 30 seconds (like 40 on cylinder 4), timing advance was oscillating around 0* CEL was lit up. I stopped the car, found and reconnected the hose, fired it up and CEL went off.
I had a coil go bad on a newer Audi - logged misfire faults but no CEL
Faulty coolant temp on a Toyota MR2 - gauge was all over the place - no CEL...
Most of these cars were ex Japan and imported to New Zealand, so I've decided that the threshold for CEL is much much lower on these Japan spec cars.
Which means (I guess because of CARB and emissions) your US spec cars throw CELs all the time?
Don't know if either is better, I think I'd prefer to know earlier.. but I guess if the manufacturer decides its not yet a problem, why should I worry?
Also, one NZ spec TJ ECU for sale. High CEL threshold to help in passing SMOG
